News

Calgary family of little Greta Marofke holding out hope as cancer spreads

Alanna Smith, Postmedia

Saturday, August 12, 2017
6:06:34 EDT PM

Greta Marofke (L) is shown in a recent supplied family photo. The family continues to hold out hope as tumours on her lungs have begun to spread after she underwent a successful transplant on her cancer-ridden liver. Courtesy Marofke family

Options are becoming scarce for little Greta Marofke who's been battling cancer for almost two years — but her family remains hopeful.

Tumours that appeared on the three year old's lungs in June, after a successful liver transplant, have since grown and multiplied despite ongoing chemotherapy treatments.

"It means we are reaching the end of our options for Greta," said her mother Lindsey Marofke.

"While I'm hopeful something can change, I'm also a realist so I'm just trying to enjoy our family, Greta and us all together as much as I can."

The family is taking a camping trip this weekend while Greta remains energetic. Despite the devastating results, Marofke said the girl isn't feeling the symptoms of the tumours yet and "has the most energy she's had in months."

It's been a lengthy battle for Greta.

She was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer called Hepatoblastoma in 2015. The cancer affects less than one in a million children and Greta has undergone numerous rounds of chemotherapy, operations and a liver transplant in May following the diagnosis.

Since Greta's story was made public, she has touched the hearts of many, not just in Calgary but across North America. On a GoFundMe page called Greta's Guardians raised over $300,000 to support her treatment since January this year.

"We've been in difficult spots off and on for the last two years, and unfortunately it's a feeling you get used to," said Marofke.

"We don't know what the future holds, but nobody does. So (we) just hang on to those moments and make memories and hold on to the hope that we can find something that will work for her."

For Greta and her brother, the bad news is still unknown.

"She knew originally that she had cancer and needed a new liver, but we haven't told her that it's back yet," said Marofke. "She's so little, it's hard for her to understand."

Depending on the chemotherapy options, Marofke said she might have to tell her two young children.

"We're still going to try a few things but we've tried all of the front line therapies for this type of cancer and they're not working," she said. "We're just trying to get away while we can and enjoy each other."